Harry Potter - plots after book 4?

[Britishmum]

Dds (8 & 6) have read Harry Potter books 1 - 4. They loved them, and didn't find them frightening, until right at the end of the 4th book. Cedric dying really bothered them. In dd's words, 'it's fine when the other characters die, but not the kids.'

I don't want to read a plot synopsis myself, as I'm reading them alongside the kids. But here's my question: do more kids die in the later books? If so, when? I was planning to get them the rest of the set for Christmas, but they say that if kids die, they're not going to read them until they are older.

Can anyone tell me if there are more deaths like Cedric's, and if so, in which books - minus the details, as I want to read them myself too!

[Dar]

I don't recall any kids dying in either books 5 or 6, although quite a few do in book 7. A significant character dies in book 5, and another dies in book 6, and both deaths are pretty intense - especially the book 6 one, I'd say. The books get progressively darker, and scarier things happen to the kids (well, students, since they're really not kids by this point).

Dar

[Britishmum]

Thanks. I think we'll leave it a couple of years. They can re-read the first four books a hundred times each for now.

It's weird because my kids aren't bothered by the frightening stuff - dd was Voldemort for Halloween because she thinks it's really cool. But they have firmly compartmentalized things into fantasy and reality. So, when a regular student kid dies, they can identify with it, and it's frightening. But death eaters can suck souls out, and that's cool and totally fine.

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by Britishmum

But death eaters can suck souls out, and that's cool and totally fine.

Actually, it's Dementors. Sorry, I'm an HP obsessed freak.

I think 5 and 6 will be fine. Kids don't die although many do get badly hurt. 7 is the one where kids die.

[WeasleyMum]

Totally depends on the kids in question, of course, but books 5-7 would have scared me as a kid, at least until I was 8 or so. But I was very "sensitive" and easily disturbed. My sister would have eaten them up.

[Ruthla]

Both of the "significant characters" who die in books 5 and 6 are adults.

In Book 7, there's a full-fledged war going on. There are a lot of deaths towards the end, of both adults and "kids" (characters who were students with Harry, although some had already graduated.) There's also some creepy stuff in book 7 mentioned just in passing- such as the death of a 5yo being briefly mentioned (the younger sibling of a minor character.) It's not a significal plot point, but given as an example of the overal horrors of war.

You might want to get the rest of the books out of the library, one at a time, and read them for yourself- both to decide for yourself if your children are ready for this, and also to enjoy the books and not have to wait until your kids are ready before finding out how the story ends!

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

There's also some creepy stuff in book 7 mentioned just in passing- such as the death of a 5yo being briefly mentioned (the younger sibling of a minor character.)

In HBP (book 6), the younger brother of the Montgomery sisters was bitten by Greyback and died in St. Mungos. He was 5.

Oh, there's also mention, in HBP, of a 9 y/o boy trying to kill his grandparents (they think he was under the Imperius Curse).

[urchin_grey]

Umm, don't forget ____ and ____'s little sister... What happened to her was pretty disturbing, though they never say it "out loud". I doubt a 6 and 8 year old would even pick up on it, but they'd probably ask.

[Britishmum]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

Actually, it's Dementors. Sorry, I'm an HP obsessed freak.
.

Thanks. You're right! I thought it was wrong as I typed it.

[Britishmum]

Hmm. I think I need to get them for myself and read them to see if the kids will handle them. I shall have to read them in secret though, otherwise they'll pick them up and read them to themselves.

I made the mistake of letting them watch the second movie yesterday. Against my better judgement. Of course, they loved it, but then both had nightmares all night. I told them this morning the movies were going away until they are older. Great scene, tears etc - did I mention that they are obsessed? But whereas they can handle the early books, they can't handle the movies. When they read they can process it, but on the screen it is too direct an experience.

The strange thing is that they are highly sensitive. But they are also really great readers, devour everything, and have an incredible imagination. So they seek new thrills in books all the time, making it hard to find a balance between a thrill and something inappropriate.

Well, I have some holiday reading ahead of me now, anyway.

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by urchin_grey

Umm, don't forget ____ and ____'s little sister... What happened to her was pretty disturbing, though they never say it "out loud". I doubt a 6 and 8 year old would even pick up on it, but they'd probably ask.

I think people read way too much into that scene. I mean, yes, it was horrible, but not to the extent some people think.

[Princess ConsuelaB]

My ten year old can handle books 5 and 6, I believe, she is only on book 4 now. My six year old couldn't handle them, she is much more sensitive. I personally found book 7 unspeakably depressing and hope to put off reading them with the kids as long as I can.

[merpk]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

I think people read way too much into that scene. I mean, yes, it was horrible, but not to the extent some people think.

????

Am confused. What was less than horrible about it?
What do you think people read into it?

Really, am interested to know. Curious. Because maybe what I've imagined is off ... and it's pretty bleepin' horrible.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by urchin_grey

Umm, don't forget ____ and ____'s little sister... What happened to her was pretty disturbing, though they never say it "out loud". I doubt a 6 and 8 year old would even pick up on it, but they'd probably ask.

Originally Posted by SAHDS

I think people read way too much into that scene. I mean, yes, it was horrible, but not to the extent some people think.

Originally Posted by merpk

????

Am confused. What was less than horrible about it?
What do you think people read into it?

Really, am interested to know. Curious. Because maybe what I've imagined is off ... and it's pretty bleepin' horrible.

Oooh, thank you for bringing this up.

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

You are referring to Ariana?

---

The first time I read that scene I came to the same conclusion Urchin did. The second time I read it I couldn't find any concrete to support it. But I still think that's what JKR was implying, because there are other incidents in DH that she cleverly wrote in such a way that your interpretation of them will depend on your own comfort level or developmental readiness. I think it's brilliant and on purpose. When she 'outed' Dumbledore I was convinced.

In HBP she wrote about violence, horror and creepiness fairly explicitly. I think she included hints about sexuality very subtly, but the it's there, no doubt in my mind.

=============

Deathly Hallows had one heartbreaking death after another, I think. I'll never forgive JKR for that first one!

[merpk]

journey'm, I've read & reread it, too, and while I don't find anything to support it, I think it's pretty strongly implied.

But I'm sure you could just imagine it (as my kids have, I'm sure) that it was a horrible beating or some such.



So sad.

[SAHDS]

I don't think it's implied and there's nothing to support it. I think it was a brutal attack, I'm sure, but not of the sort people think. Of course, it's still horrible any way you look at it.

[Tra1978]

My feelings reading the books were that the later books didn't seem as directed towards children as the first ones. To me it felt like she started targeting her adult audiences not only with content but with length as well.

The death in book #5 really affected me as an adult. I sobbed all the way through the scene. I'm not sure it's something I want my dd reading until maybe her early teens.

[brackin]

Originally Posted by Tra1978

The death in book #5 really affected me as an adult. I sobbed all the way through the scene. I'm not sure it's something I want my dd reading until maybe her early teens.

I felt the same way about the death in Book 6.

[SAHDS]

The death that affected me most was in book 7:

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

Dobby

---

I bawled my eyes out over that one.

At one point, near the end of 7, I was crying so hard and I screamed "She's killing EVERYONE!"

DH was a bit afraid to approach me for a few hours.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

The death that affected me most was in book 7:

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

Dobby

---

I bawled my eyes out over that one.

At one point, near the end of 7, I was crying so hard and I screamed "She's killing EVERYONE!"

DH was a bit afraid to approach me for a few hours.

I agree, I bawled during all of that. I also bawled my eyes out pretty much from the end of the first battle through to the beginning of the second one.